''Cervulus'' or ''Cervula'' is the name of a

Roman festival Festivals in ancient Rome were a very important part in Roman religious life during both the Republican and Imperial eras, and one of the primary features of the Roman calendar. ''Feriae'' ("holidays" in the sense of "holy days"; singula ...

celebrated on the

kalends The calends or kalends ( la, kalendae) is the first day of every month in the Roman calendar. The English word "calendar" is derived from this word. Use The Romans called the first day of every month the ''calends'', signifying the start of a ...

of January (1 January). According to Chambers (1864), remnants seem to have been incorporated into a medieval Christian

Feast of the Ass The Feast of the Ass ( la, Festum Asinorum, asinaria festa; french: Fête de l'âne) is a medieval, Christian feast observed on 14 January, celebrating the Flight into Egypt. It was originally celebrated primarily in France, as a by-product of the ...

, (''Festum Asinorum''), which honors the role of donkeys in the

Bible The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts o ...

, including the

Flight into Egypt The flight into Egypt is a story recounted in the Gospel of Matthew ( Matthew 2:13– 23) and in New Testament apocrypha. Soon after the visit by the Magi, an angel appeared to Joseph in a dream telling him to flee to Egypt with Mary and the ...

."It took place on the kalends of January and was a kind of New Year's festival, at which people exchange ''strenae'' (étrennes, 'gifts') dressed up as animals or old women, and danced through the streets singing, the applause of the populace. According to DuCange (s.v
cervulus
, sacrilegious songs were sung. This happened even in the vicinity of St. Peter's in Rome" >

References

{{reflist Ancient Roman festivals January observances New Year celebrations